UEFA bans Mourinho for one game

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has been handed a one-match Champions League ban and a fine after UEFA found him guilty of improper conduct relating to the recent dismissals of players Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos.

Mourinho has been banned from the touchline for two UEFA competition matches, the second of which is suspended for three years, with the club fined 120,000 euros after the two players seemed to deliberately incur second bookings, therefore wiping out previous cautions ahead of the Champions League knockout stage.

This is a totally ridiculous decision by UEFA. First of all if they are fining Alonso and Ramos for getting deliberate red cards, why are they still letting their bans still stand? So they will both miss the Auxerre game and enter the knockout stages with a clean record. Isn’t that what UEFA just found them guilty of doing?

Also, UEFA suspends Mourinho for the final group game against Auxerre, which is a a meaningless game from Real Madrid’s standpoint. What is the point of that?

UEFA’s statement read:

“Following the opening of disciplinary proceedings concerning the improper conduct of Real Madrid CF coach Jose Mourinho and players Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Jerzy Dudek during the UEFA Champions League Group G game against AFC Ajax in Amsterdam on Tuesday 23 November, the UEFA control and disciplinary body dealt with the case today and decided the following:

The Spanish club’s coach Jose Mourinho has been suspended from coaching activities for two UEFA club competition matches, of which the second is deferred for a probationary period of three years. He was also fined 40,000 euros.